The Nahmeh

• Al-Kalim's history and the Nahmeh
• The Articles of Faith (coming soon)

Al-Kalim's life

The Nahmeh (literally, "the word") is the book written by Al-Kalim after his journeys. It contains the essence of the Articles of Faith that all True Believers should follow, as well as an account of his life.

The early life of Al-Kalim is well known to all. He is known for his unerring water direction as an infant, his fierce and reckless ntaure as an adolescent, his lonely and mirculous solitary jounrneys through the desert as a young man, and his authority, wit and justice as a young chief.

As a youth he was the embodiment of the ideals of the dester nomad, and of all the Emirates. His early miliary successes were due to his great charisma, wielding a band of 10,000 warriors together to capture the village of Ylaruam, the largest band the desert had ever seen before. He made the village of Ylaruam the centre of his growing government.

He fought against the Alphatians and the Thytians, who had taken the land from it's rightful owners. The tactics that he developed in mobile warfare and magical skirmishers are still used in the modern Emirates, centuries later. He developed tatics which made full full of mounted archers, medium infanty, and mounted raiders.

As an adult, he becaome known for his honour and wisdom. In the year 826 he revealed his dream of Justice and Honour, by which he expressed his belief that all men could count on the gods and his fellow man for justice and honour, if he lived his life in accordance with the Articles of Faith. This forms the basis of life in the Emirates today.

Al-Kalim mounted campaigns against the occupying armies, driving them back to the coast. There he quickly shattered the Alphatians within a few short years, driving them back to their own land with heavy losses. The cities and towns that he liberated opened their gates to him in welcome, and the soldiers used by the Alphatians joined his army.

The Thytians proved more troublesome, retreating inside walled forts. These he dealt with by means of dwarven engineers hired for the purpose. Several major cities fell within six months of seige with their aid and his great cunning. Remnents of their fortresses can still be seen dotting the landscape today.

When Al-Kalim had defeated all of the oppressors, the great convocation of tribes came together. Al-Kalim now revealed his dream of the Desert Garden, to supplement the dream of Justice and Honour. This dream was to bring together all magical and scholarly aid be brought together in the aim of making the desert bloom. The assembled tribes elected him the first Sultan of the Confederated Tribes of Ylaruam.

After this, the preceptors, the advisors of Al-Kalim, ruled in his name. Meanwhile he quested after a patron to bring prosperity to the Emirates. He adventured on other planes of existance against the evil efreeti on behalf of the noble djinn, bringing their favour. He traveled many strange places, even underwater. Eventually he found the patronship of the Old Man in the Sea, who agreed to help him in the dream.

This quest had taken many years, so he retired to write the Nahmeh with his faithful companion Farid. His children carried on his dream, becoming Sultan in turn, which continues to this day.

Al-Kalim died at the ripe old age of 100 in the year 900 AC, surrounded by his friends and family.

Here are a selection of quotes from the Nahmeh (you are welcome to make up your own)

• We must be the candles that burn so that others might have light (Al-Kalim on soldiers defending the faith)
• If friendship is a diamond, then troubles are a dianmond mine.
• The enemies of our enemies are not necessarily our friends
• Do not rail against the condition of man. Would you rather be a dog or a donkey? Accept what is given, and cease your gumbling
• Al-Kalim has said, 'The stranger must be succored in time of need'

The Articles of Faith

Coming soon to a country near you!

Glenn Butcher / knight